ABIA baggage handler pleads guilty to stealing firearms

UPDATE: 26-year-old Ja'Quan Johnson faces up tp twenty years in federal prison after pleading guilty to stealing firearms from checked baggage at Austin Bergstorm International Airport.

By pleading guilty, Johnson admits that between November 29, 2016 and February 2, 2017 he stole seven handguns from inside passenger bags at ABIA.

Johnson remains on bond pending sentencing. Sentencing has yet to be scheduled.

FBI agents have arrested a 25-year-old baggage handler at Austin Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) based on a federal criminal complaint charging him with theft from an interstate shipment and possession of stolen firearms. Ja'Quan Johnson of Austin is accused of stealing numerous handguns from inside passenger bags.

The complaint alleges that between November 29, 2016, and February 2, 2017, Ja'Quan Johnson of Austin stole numerous handguns from inside passenger bags at ABIA. The complaint further alleges that Johnson traded some of the stolen firearms for marijuana.

So far, Austin Police have recovered seven firearms allegedly stolen by Johnson.

Upon conviction, Johnson faces up to ten years in federal prison for theft from an interstate shipment and up to ten years in federal prison for possession of each stolen firearm.

Johnson was released on a personal recognizance bond following his initial appearance this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Andrew W. Austin. No further court dates have been scheduled.

This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Transportation Security Administration and the Austin Police Department's Aviation Division.